Tourists visit Tra Su mangrove Forest in An Giang Province. Better linkages among local governments and businesses in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are needed to fully exploit the tourism potential of the region. — Photo baotintuc.vn

HCM CITY— Better linkages among local governments and businesses in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are needed to fully exploit the tourism potential of the region, the president of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee has said.

Speaking at a meeting held on Sunday in Ben Tre Province, Nguyen Thien Nhan said that each province needed to identify its strengths in order to overcome weaknesses in the tourism sector.

Cao Van Trong, chairman of Ben Tre Province's People's Committee, said the province, like others in the region, depended on tourism.

He said the region should not only promote its natural landscapes and cultural value but preserve them at the same time.

Ben Tre has a dense network of rivers and streams, canals, beaches and islands. Its folk festivals and historic monuments also attract travellers.

Tran Duy Phuong, deputy director of Ben Tre's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province should improve its restaurants, hotels and unique tourism products, as well as services.

Most Mekong Delta provinces have seen a growth in tourism in recent years, particularly in Ben Tre.

In the 1995-2015 period, the province saw an average increase of 23.11 per cent of tourists per year.

The Mekong Delta region welcomes around 1.5 million tourists per year. — VNS